To try to predict the outfall of the 2020/21 Premier League season will be difficult, while looking back 50 years to that special season 70/71. England coming home after a World Cup dissapointment ending in the quarter finals v. West Germany, looking so strong until that Bobby Charlton substitution . The domestic league season also became special with Arsenal ending on a high winning The Double and really English football flourished.
So let’s begin with Arsenal, back then 50 years ago they ended 12th the season before, and had a number of young players like Ray Kennedy and Pat Rice just in their late teens, and of course another young ace in Charlie George who had also not really blossomed fullym, but as we did see they conquered them all the season after.
Arsenal will next season be much stronger under Mikel Arteta and their recent FA Cup win will of course be a boost going into the next season with a few new signings as well and it looks as if they have managed to keep their best players at the club as well. We will see an improved Arsenal team who will get a place in the Champions League fold, believe they will end 4th, four places up from last seasons 8th.
Leeds was one of the great teams back 50 years, and just a point behind Arsenal in 70/71, this season they are back in the top flight with a long time away from the top flight, so it’s with excitement we are following the men of Argentinian coach Mercelo Bielsa who we believe will certainly take his team up in the top 10, ending 9th.
Wolves and Tottenham were both high in the table back 50 years, ending 4th and 3rd, they will not be up in those positions next season but believe they will end 8th (Wolves) and 6th (Spurs). Liverpool and Chelsea were also up there in 70/71, but certainly they will be in a totally different position this season, seeing Liverpool shining on top and not 5th as it was back in then in the Shankly era, Chelsea will be 3rd this season and three steps up from their 6th position back when Peter Osgood was up front.
Manchester City and Manchester United were not in the very top going back 50 years, they ended 11th and 8th, this season Man City will be chasing Liverpool to the final day, believe they will end 2nd and Man Utd believe they will be 5th. Man City is in a bit of transition and Man Utd has not enough depth in their squad to be able to keep themselves in the top four.
Southampton ended 7th 50 years ago, but this season they will struggle more and we don’t see them higher than 16, but difficult to predict, certainly we see them above the relegation zone as other teams will battle down there. Aston Villa were not a top flight team 50 years ago, nor was Sheffield United or Fulham, the three teams we believe will go down, probably a surprise to see last seasons high flying “Blades”. Leicester City ended 5th last season after a great first period of the season, we believe they will drop to 7th next season, and back 50 years they were in the 2nd tier just missing promotion, but gaining that possibility winning the 2nd division in that 70/71 season.
Burnley did experience the relegation 50 years back together with Blackpool, but this season they will be mid table ending in a 12th position with Sean Dyche making the moves he needs to secure such a position. West Ham and Newcastle will of course be seen in the middle as they also were in 70/71, believe they will end 13 and 14 next season.
Everton who were the previous season winners, ended in a disappointing 14th place, this season they could be the surprise of the league with Carlo Ancelotti in charge and new signing James Rodriguez making the outfit at Goodison Park very interesting, they could get even higher than the 10th position we believe thay will end in.
West Bromwich is back in the top flight, but we certainly believe that will be short lived, not the forward line as back in 70/71 when Jeff Astle and Tony Brown scored goals on delivery. Sadly “The Baggies” will be send back down, place 19.
The two teams left to put into our “league ladder” are Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion, who we think will be able to compete well. Palace placed 15, ending 18th 50 years ago, and some might be surprised by our prediction of The Seagulls that we really will see pushing the top 10, ending 11th.
Looking back 50 years you had 22 teams in the top division, and those teams we haven’t mentioned who we will not see this season are Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Coventry City, Stoke City, Huddersfield Town and Ipswich Town, no longer part of top flight football.
The Premier League predictions,
- 20
- Fulham
- Manager: Scott Parker
- Most Important Player: Aleksandar Mitrovic
- Key Signing: Antonee Robinson
- 1970/71: 2nd, 3rd tier
- Star Man: Steve Earle
- Fulham
- 19
- West Bromwich Albion
- Manager: Slaven Bilic
- Most Important Player: Matt Phillips
- Key Signing: Matheus Pereira
- 1970/71: 17th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Jeff Astle
- West Bromwich Albion
- 18
- Sheffield United
- Manager: Chris Wilder
- Most Important Player: Oli McBurnie
- Key Signing: Aaron Ramsdale
- 1970/71: 2nd, 2nd tier
- Star Man: Tony Currie
- Sheffield United
- 17
- Aston Villa
- Manager: Dean Smith
- Most Important Player: Jack Grealish,
- Key Signing: Matty Cash
- 1970/71: 4th, 3rd tier
- Star Man: Bruce Rioch
- Aston Villa
- 16
- Southampton
- Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl
- Most Important Player: Danny Ings
- Key Signing: Mohammed Salisu
- 1970-71: 7th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Mike Channon
- Southampton
- 15
- Crystal Palace
- Manager: Roy Hodgson
- Most Important Player: Wilfred Zaha
- Key Signing: Eberechi Eze
- 1970-71: 18th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Steve Kember
- Crystal Palace
- 14
- Newcastle United
- Manager: Steve Bruce
- Most Important Player: Jamaal Lascelles
- Key Signing: Jeff Hendrick
- 1970-71: 12th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Bobby Moncur
- Newcastle United
- 13
- West Ham United
- Manager: David Moyes
- Most Important Player: Declan Rice
- Key Signing: Tomas Saucek
- 1970-71: 20th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Bobby Moore
- West Ham United
- 12
- Burnley
- Manager: Sean Dyche
- Most Important Player: James Tarkowski
- Key Signing: Mark Richter
- 1970-71: 21st, 1st tier
- Star Man: Frank Casper
- Burnley
- 11
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Manager: Graham Potter
- Most Important Player: Lewis Dunk
- Key Signing: Adam Lallana
- 1970-71: 14th, 3rd tier
- Star Man: Kit Napier
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- 10
- Everton
- Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
- Most Important Player: Richarlison
- Key Signing: Allan
- 1970/71: 14th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Alan Ball
- Everton
- 9
- Leeds
- Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
- Most Important Player: Kalvin Phillips
- Key Signing: Rodrigo
- 1970/71: 2nd, 1st tier
- Star Man: Billy Bremner
- Leeds
- 8
- Wolves
- Manager: Nuno Santo
- Most Important Player: Ruben Neves
- Key Signing: –
- 1970/71: 4th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Derek Dougan
- Wolves
- 7
- Leicester City
- Manager: Brendan Rodgers
- Most Important Player: Jamie Vardy
- Key Signing: Timothy Castagne
- 1970/71: 1st, 2nd tier
- Star Man: Peter Shilton
- Leicester City
- 6
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Manager: Jose Mourinho
- Most Imprtant Player: Harry Kane
- Key Signing: Matt Doherty
- 1970/71: 3rd, 1st tier
- Star Man: Martin Chivers
- Tottenham Hotspur
- 5
- Manchester United
- Manager: Old Gunnar Solskjær
- Most Important Player: Bruno Fernandes
- Key Signing: Donny van de Beek
- 1970/71: 8th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Bobby Charlton
- Manchester United
- 4
- Arsenal
- Manager; Mikel Arteta
- Most Important Player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
- Key Signing: Willian
- 1970/71: 1st, 1st tier
- Star Man: Charlie George
- Arsenal
- 3
- Chelsea
- Manager: Frank Lampard
- Most Important Player: Timo Werner
- Key Signing: Ben Chilwell
- 1970/71: 6th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Peter Osgood
- Chelsea
- 2
- Manchester City
- Manager: Jurgen Klopp
- Most Important Player: Mohamed Salah
- Key Signing: Nathan Ake
- 1970/71: 11th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Colin Bell
- Manchester City
- 1
- Liverpool
- Manager: Jurgen Klopp
- Most Important Player: Mohamed Salah
- Key Signing: –
- 1970/71: 5th, 1st tier
- Star Man: Emlyn Hughes
- Liverpool
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